The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill seems to be strongly influenced by the writing of the expressionist Strindberg, who was one of O'Neill's major influences. In particular, Mildred's influence on Yank reflects Strindberg's pairings of the aristocratic female with the working man(e.g. in Miss Julie) with both characters signifying symbolic types engaged in class and evolutionary struggles as much as being individual characters. Although some of the scenes of class conflict reflect realistic interests, the episodic character of the play, and the encounter with the ape all are more typical stylistically of expressionism.